Mike Pence Just Destroyed Tim Kaine And Dealt Hillary A Setback

Last night, Mike Pence faced off with Tim Kaine in the one and only Vice Presidential debate.

Many were expecting a low-key affair between two “nice guy” candidates.

But when the contest was over, Mike Pence was clearly the victor.

From the opening of the debate, Tim Kaine carried on like a five-year-old throwing a temper tantrum.

He constantly interrupted Pence and fired off pre-scripted prepared “zingers” that landed with a thud.

Pence ignored Kaine trying to bait him and pivoted each question back to an attack on Hillary Clinton’s character and failed record.

His easy-going demeanor, which he honed during his time as a radio and TV broadcaster, helped him come across as sensible, confident, and conservative.

His victory was so clear that MSNBC’s Chris Matthews declared him the victor.

The Washington Examiner reports:

Matthews said on Tuesday night, immediately after the debate was over, that GOP nominee Donald Trump’s running-mate came across as a “grown-up” and credible on conservative issues.

“[O]verall I think the winner tonight, in terms of the debate and what they were trying to accomplish, Pence,” said Matthews. “Because Pence really was solid. He looked like he had his head screwed on. And I think that’s going to look very important for Trump who doesn’t often look like he has his head screwed on.”

He said, though, that Democrat Tim Kaine, Vice Presidential nominee for Hillary Clinton, didn’t fare as well.Bott Stay abreast of the latest developments from nation’s capital and yond withTop of Form

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“On the other hand, I thought at times, and I like the guy, Kaine — was a little bit, I don’t know what the right word is— a little desperate there, jumping in all the time, always trying to get his points in,” Matthews said. “He didn’t wait his turn. Obviously, if he had just waited his turn, the back-and-forth nature of this type of event, he would have had his opportunity. I don’t know why he kept interrupting because with two people debating, the other guys gets the chance to speak, he couldn’t wait for that. I think that hurt him.”

Politico’s Insiders – made up of both Democrat and Republican operatives in key states – also scored the debate a win for Pence.

60% of the operatives gave the night to Pence.

In addition, a CNN/ORC overnight poll found voters believed Pence won the debate 48% to 42%.

Pence hammered the Clinton/Kaine ticket for their support of trillions of dollars in tax increases, partial-birth abortion, amnesty and job killing regulations.

He also brushed off Kaine’s prepared attacks with gentle rebukes and an “aw, shucks” demeanor that appealed to TV viewers.

Fox News’s Frank Luntz staged a focus group in Ohio and Pence scored off the charts with voters.

Even on preventing home-grown terrorism, Mike Pence is winning over undecideds while Tim Kaine makes the dials plummet.#VPDebate pic.twitter.com/ed7W0RYz12

— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) October 5, 2016

“While Pence was a hit with the focus group, Kaine struggled to connect during several key moments.” #VPDebatehttps://t.co/JRzDSs0s9G

— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) October 5, 2016

Will Pence’s debate performance move the needle on the presidential election?

The likely answer is no.

But Pence’s command performance gives the Trump campaign a good news cycle after a week of media generated controversies.

The key question will be if Trump can build on this momentum and turn in a solid debate performance of his own in the second presidential debate on October 9th.